Darnell Dodson: The Forgotten Recruit
Nothing could be more exciting than landing arguably the best recruiting class of all time in college basketball. Everyone is talking about point guard sensation John Wall and elite big man, DeMarcus Cousins. Lost in the mix is Darnell Dodson, a 6′7 slasher / perimeter threat who signed with coach Jamie Dixon and the University of Pittsburg out of high school. Dixon has a keen eye for talent and Dodson fit the bill of a defensive minded player who can scorch it from outside.
(Editor’s Fun Fact #3.33 repeating: Jamie Dixon coached Darius Miller this summer on the ‘United States under-19 men’s national basketball team’, where he led the USA to it’s first gold medal in 18 years.)
Dodson was soon informed that he would be academically ineligible and transferred to ‘Miami Dade Junior College’ in Florida with the intentions of returning to PITT in 2009. Therein lies the rub…
The Big East has a rule that prohibits non-qualifying players out of high school who have enrolled at a conference school from re-enrolling at any Big East school after attending a two year junior college. PITT released Dodson from his letter of intent so that he could join Coach Calipari at Memphis. Once Cal was hired at UK his commitment shifted to the University of Kentucky.
Here is a recruiting synopsis of Darnell from ESPN in 2008:
Dodson is a quick and athletic small forward who uses his perimeter jumper to set up his slashing and pull up game when needed. He can knock down open jumpers off the catch and dribble if the defense gives him space. He also has range from 20 to 22 feet. He has improved his strength and is finishing stronger at the basket.
Could Dodson be the one to fill the shooting void left by Jodie Meeks? Only time can tell but it’s very promising. Here’s a video of him in action.
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